Baseboard humidifier



March 14, 1967 M. A. POWERS 3,309,021

BASEBOARD HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I, I INVENTORJ 34 MILTON A. PO 22p 1 35 I E1 m/ 33 7 Y ATTORNEYS March 14, 1967POWERS 3,309,021

BASEBOARD HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 21,, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORMILTON A. POWERS ATTORNEYS March 14, 1967 POWERS 3,309,021

BASEBOARD HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTORMILTON A. POWERS BY 5 M 7/144 407% ATTORNEYS March 14, 1967 M. A. POWERSBASEBOARD HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORMILTON A. POWERS /wwwwa ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,309,021BASEBOARD HUMIDIFIER Milton A. Powers, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.,assignor to Skuttle Manufacturing Company, Milford, Mich., a corporationof Michigan Filed Sept. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 397,998 2 Claims. (Cl. 23778)This invention relates to humidifiers adapted for combination with moreor less conventional heating units and particularly with baseboard typeunits.

In its preferred embodiment the invention will be described asincorporated with a baseboard hot water heater unit with the supply ofwater for the humidifier being drawn from the hot water circuit. Thehumidifier itself is of novel construction, embodying one or more rotarywater pick-up disks slowly driven adjacent the heater unit and disposedin the path of normal air circulation.

It is therefore the major object of this invention to provide a novelhumidifier assembly wherein one or more water pick-up disks are slowlyrotated in the path of air flow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combination ofheater unit and humidifier, particularly for baseboard heaterassemblies.

It is another object of the invention to provide a humidifier assemblywherein a plurality of water pick-up disks are slowly rotated with theirlower ends immersed in a body of water in novel association.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel compactcombination of heater unit and humidifier wherein water pick-up rotorsare slowly rotated adjacent the heater unit and in the path of air flowinduced by the heater unit.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel combinationof a hot water radiator and a humidifier wherein water for thehumidifier is derived from the hot water supply line to the radiator.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds in connectionwith the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section showing abaseboard type humidifier according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is :a section substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showingdetails;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section showinganother embodiment having a different type of disk drive;

FIGURE 4 is a section substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation partially broken away and in sectionshowing a further embodiment having different disk shapes and drivearrangements;

FIGURE 6 is a section substantially on line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 shows in cross section a special construction of a waterpick-up disk;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of the disk of FIGURE 7 partially brokenaway and sectioned;

FIGURE 9 is a cross section showing another type of water pick-up disk;and

FIGURE 10 is an end elevation of the disk of FIGURE 9 partially brokenaway and in section.

Referring to FIGURES l :and 2 the combined assembly of the inventioncomprises a heat exchange unit 21 enclosed in a casing 22 in the lowerpart of which is a humidifier receptacle 23 adapted to contain a body ofwater 24. The lower ends of one or more humidifier disks, three beingshown here at 25, 26 and 27, are immersed in water 24. The humidifierdisks are slowly rotated and are capable of picking up water from thebody 3,309,021 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 24, and this water is evaporatedfrom their upper surfaces into the air stream indicated by the arrows inFIGURE 2, to pass into the surrounding atmosphere.

The heat exchange unit 21 is here a hot water radiator of the usualbase-board type, comprising a through conduit 28 on which is mounted aseries of disc-like radiating fins 29 adapted to provide a large totalarea of radiating surface to radiate heat into the interior of casing20.

Conduit 28 is continuous with the usual hot water supply pipe 31carrying hot water into the radiator unit, and the usual hot wateroutlet pipe 32 conveying the water back into the system. There is acontinuous flow of hot water through conduit 28 when the system iscalling for heat through the usual thermostatic controls (not shown).

The casing 22 is in the corner between the floor 33 and room side Wall34 and comprises a rear wall 35 flush with the room wall, end walls 36and 37 that are usually mainly closed except for passage of the hotwater conduits, a top wall 38 having spaced air outlet apertures 39, afront wall 41 comprising a door 42 hinged at its lower end at 43 andlatched at 44, and a bottom wall 45 that is held in spaced relationabove the floor, as by legs 46, to allow air to enter apertures 47 Thehinged front door is apertured at louvres 48 to admit air as shown bythe arrows in FIGURE 2.

Within casing 20 humidifier receptacle 23 is mounted as by havingopposite sides of its top rim 52 secured upon ledges 53 and 54 rigidwith the casing walls. Ledges 53 and 54 also similarly support spacedtransverse parallel shafts 55, 56 and 57 carrying the water pick-updisks 2527 respectively.

FIGURE 2 shows the central shaft 56 as having its opposite endsremovably mounted in electric motor 58 and open top bearing59,-respectively. Motor 58 is secured upon ledge 53 as by bracket 61,and the adjacent end of shaft 56 extends into internal drivingengagement with the motor shaft.

Disk 26 is preferably an integral block of open port polyurethane foam,preferably flocked for added water pick-up capacity, having a centralopening 62 to pass shaft 56, and it is secured non-rotatably on shaft 56as by opposite collars 63 that are held by set screws 64 in tightfrictional engagement with the sides of the disk. The lower edge of oneor more radiator fins may be cut away as indicated at 65 in FIGURE 2 toenable free passage of the shaft 56 through the heating unit.

Only a single small motor 58 is required to drive the very light weightdisks which are interconnected for concomitant rotation. Here theperiphery of each disk 2527 is annularly grooved at 67 and an endlessdrive belt 68 passes along all the grooves. As shown the ends of thebelt are looped over the end disks 25 and 27 and the medial portions ofthe belt are superposed in the groove on driven disk 26. This providesan efficient non-slip drive which keeps as much of the belt as possibleout of the water body 24.

The disks 25 and 27 are supported on their shafts similarly to disk 26,and the shafts 55 and 57 are suitably mounted in end bearings on theopposite ledges 53, 54. Disks 25-27 are all preferably of the same sizeand composition, and may be made of the materials set forth in mycopending application Ser. No. 327,026 filed Nov. 29, 1963, forHumidifier as well as those disclosed in this application.

The water level in receptacle 24 is maintained constant, as by a float69 connected for controlling a suitable valve assembly 70 mounted on thepan wall and having a water inlet pipe 71 coupled into the hot watersupply system at 72. Pipe 71 contains a manual shut-off valve 73. Thevalve assembly 70 is preferably that disclosed in my Letters Patent No.3,099,286 issued July 30, 1963, wherein an inlet nozzle is uncovered todischarge water into the receptacle 23 whenever actuated by the fioat69. Any suitable float controlled valve may be used here, or any othermeans for maintaining a constant level of water in body 24 derived frominlet pipe 71 may be employed.

In operation the heater unit 21 provides heat for the room or otherspace and enclosed'within casing 22, which is open at the bottom inapertures 47 and 48 and open at the top in apertures 39, it causesupward flow of air'as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 2 at aconsiderable rate of flow without the aid of fans and other noisy aids.

The three disks 25-27 are slowly rotated at about three revolutions perminute with their lower ends immersed in the water body 24,and theirupper areas in the path of air flow. The water in the pores of the disksis heated by the adjacent heater unit.21 and subjected to the air streambeing heated, whereby relatively rapid evaporation of water into the airstream is accomplished efficiently and quietly. The number and size ofdisks 25-27 determines the amountofwater evaporated into the air.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, wherein similar numerals designate similarparts, the casing 22 encloses a different humidifier arrangement.

Two Water pick-up disks 83 and 84 of the same materials as those ofFIGURES l and 2 are employed here. An electric motor 76 is mounted on abracket 77 fixed to ledge 53 which its shaft coupled to a gear 78 meshedwith a pair of gears 79 and 80 on transverse shafts 81 and 82 eachjournalled in bracket 77 and a bracket 75 secured to ledge 54.

On shafts 81 and 82 water pick-upudisks 83 and 84 are mounted, as bycollars 63 and set screws 64, with their lower ends immersed in thewater body 24 and their upper areas in the path of air flow through thecasing '22.

Operation in this embodiment is similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGURES and 6, another humidifier arrangement is shownin the combination. Here the heater unit 21 and casing 22 are as in theprevious embodirnents, and the three shaftsSS, 56 and 57 are disposed asin FIGURES 1 and 2 with motor 58 driving the middle shaft 56.

This embodiment differs over FIGURES 1 and 2 in that two water pick-upunits are mounted on each shaft, and a different arrangement isprovidedfor driving the end disks from the middle shaft.

Referring to FIGURE 6 it will be seen that two identical water pick-updisks 85 are secured in spaced relation on shaft 56, as by the usualcollars 63, and disposed on opposite sides of the heater unit 21 formost effective action.v cylindrical as in the other embodiments but theperiphery is serrated to provide teeth'86 meshed with teeth 87 and 88 ofsimilar disks 89 and 90 mounted on shafts 55 and 57 respectively.

The meshed teeth 86, .87, 88 provide an efiicient noiseless slow speedlow torque drive to the outer shafts 55 and 57, without the need ofbelts, gears and other mechanical devices.

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8 there is illustrated a disk 90 adapted tobe mounted on one of the transverse shafts in the humidifier of FIGURES1-4. Disk 90' consists of a central major portion 91 of plain open porefoam such as polyurethane, which has not been flocked and is lessexpensive, and an annular peripheral rim portion 92 of open pore flockedfoam. This outer rim portion 92 is formed by cementing a strip offlocked open pore foam around the periphery of inner portion 91, andcementing the ends as at 93. The radial dimension of annular flockedportion 92 is about equal to the depth of immersion of the disk 90' inthe water reservoir 24 when the water in the reservoir is nearlyexhausted, so that the advantageous water pick-up properties of theflocked open pore foam are realized during rotation of the disk 90 inthe humidifier. The water picked up by Referring to FIGURE 5, each disk85 is not annulus 92 is allowed to drain and diffuse down throughthecentral portion of the disk after having been lifted by the flockedportion.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate another form of water pick-up disk 95 whichmay be used in FIGURES 1-4. This disk is a homogeneous open pore foambody, and flocking is'applied to a peripheral region-96 as by sprayingthe flock through a suitable pressure gun 97. By coating either theflock itself or the peripheral region 96 of the disk with a lightadhesive and moving the gun to blow floc radially directly into the diskpores and/or as far down the disk sides .as may be desired a suitablyflocked annular peripheral region 96 is provided on disk 95. The airpressure of fioc gun-97 will insure deep.

penetration of the floc for adequate flocked foam water pick-up surfaceareas.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined baseboard radiator and humidifier assembly comprising acasing, a generally horizontally elongated radiator unit within saidcasing comprising a conduit for flow of hot water and a series of heatdissipating fins mounted along the conduit, hot water, supply and returnlines connecting said conduit to a-source of hot water, an open topreceptacle mounted within the lower part of said casing to contain abody of water extending along but at a lower level, than the said fins,a water pickup rotor mounted on a shaft extending transversely of thecasing at substantially right angles to said conduit,

said rotor having a periphery of porous plastic material that duringrotation has a minor lower area disposed in said body of water and itsupper water bearing area dis-' posed adjacent said fins, passage meansdirectly connecting the hot water supply line to discharge water intosaid receptacle, a valve in said passage means responsive to the waterlevel in said receptacle for maintaining a substantially constant waterlevel in said receptacle, a motor.

on said casing drive connected to saidshaft for rotating said rotor at aslowspeed, an air inlet opening in the.

lower part of said casing, and an air outlet opening in the upper partof said casing, said openings being so located that air flowing byconnection through the casing i traverses saidupper part of said rotorand the radiator unit fins, heat from said fins assisting in evaporatingwater from said adjacent rotor upper area into the moving air.

2. In the combined baseboard radiator and humidifier:

assembly defined in claim 1, there being a plurality of said rotorsrotatable upon transverse axes within the'casing, each rotor comprisinga water pick up disk and said disks being spaced along the lengthof saidradiator unit, and means for rotating all of said disks at the sametime.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD J.MICHAEL, Primary Examiner.

1. A COMBINED BASEBOARD RADIATOR AND HUMIDIFIER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING ACASING, A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED RADIATOR UNIT WITHIN SAIDCASING COMPRISING A CONDUIT FOR FLOW OF HOT WATER AND A SERIES OF HEATDISSIPATING FINS MOUNTED ALONG THE CONDUIT, HOT WATER SUPPLY AND RETURNLINES CONNECTING SAID CONDUIT TO A SOURCE OF HOT WATER, AN OPEN TOPRECEPTACLE MOUNTED WITHIN THE LOWER PART OF SAID CASING TO CONTAIN ABODY OF WATER EXTENDING ALONG BUT AT A LOWER LEVEL THAN THE SAID FINS, AWATER PICKUP ROTOR MOUNTED ON A SHAFT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THECASING AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID CONDUIT, SAID ROTOR HAVINGA PERIPHERY OF POROUS PLASTIC MATERIAL THAT DURING ROTATION HAS A MINORLOWER AREA DISPOSED IN SAID BODY OF WATER AND ITS UPPER WATER BEARINGAREA DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID FINS, PASSAGE MEANS DIRECTLY CONNECTING THEHOT WATER SUPPLY LINE TO DISCHARGE WATER INTO SAID RECEPTACLE, A VALVEIN SAID PASSAGE MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE WATER LEVEL IN SAID RECEPTACLEFOR MAINTAINING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT WATER LEVEL IN SAID RECEPTACLE,A MOTOR ON SAID CASING DRIVE CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATING SAIDROTOR AT A SLOW SPEED, AN AIR INLET OPENING IN THE LOWER PART OF SAIDCASING, AND AN AIR OUTLET OPENING IN THE UPPER PART OF SAID CASING, SAIDOPENINGS BEING SO LOCATED THAT AIR FLOWING BY CONNECTION THROUGH THECASING TRAVERSES SAID UPPER PART OF SAID ROTOR AND THE RADIATOR UNITFINS, HEAT FROM SAID FINS ASSISTING IN EVAPORATING WATER FROM SAIDADJACENT ROTOR UPPER AREA INTO THE MOVING AIR.